Congressman Perlmutter makes plea after stem cell research ruling

U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter[1]’s call for his opponents to pledge their support for embryonic stem cell research has fallen flat.

Part of the Golden Democrat’s plea is personal: His eldest daughter has epilepsy.

[2]

President Barack Obama signs a executive order overturning the Bush administration's restrictions on federally financed human embryonic stem cell research on March 9, 2009. Now the White House is reviewing how to respond to a federal judge's ruling that temporarily blocks federal financing for the research. (Doug Mills/ The New York Times)

Perlmutter asked Republican Ryan Frazier[3] and Libertarian Buck Bailey[4] to get on board after a federal judge on Monday halted an executive order allowing for increased funding for the research. The judge said it violated a ban[5] on the use of federal money to destroy embryos.

Here’s what the three candidates had to say:

Perlmutter: “Stem cell research holds the greatest promise we have to find a cure for medical conditions such as Epilepsy, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Diabetes. The executive order took steps to require the National Institute of Health to establish clear ethical guidelines for the research, and I think the research should be allowed to move forward.”

Frazier: “The judge issued this injunction because he felt that the President’s Executive Order violates a congressional statute from 1996, which outlaws federal funding for the destruction of embryos. We need to let the process play itself out. In the meantime, I will continue to focus on the number one issue right now – jobs and the economy.” *

Bailey: “I believe it is important research that should be privately funded. This is not something the federal government should be funding or working to prevent.”